Identification guide - Lumnitzera racemosa

A field guide to Kenyan mangroves

Lumnitzera racemosa Willd. 1803

Family: Combreatceae

Distribution
Lumnitzera is an Asian genus, with species occuring from eastern Africa to the Western Pacific. In Kenya, Lumnitzera racemosa grows on the terrestrial edge of the mangroves as a shrub more commonly than as a tree.

Leaves
Leaves of L. racemosa are succulent and small (up to 4cm length, 2cm width). The shape is obovate (broadest above the middle of the leaf), the apex is rounded or emarginated (the indent in the tip of the leaf). Petiole is often absent (leaves are thus often sessile). An obvious characteristic is the serrated edge of the leaf.

Flowers and fruit
Flowers are up to 1 cm length, exhibiting 5 small white petals. Fruit is fleshy and flattened while on the tree, but fibrous after floating in water

Roots
No well-developed above ground root system was observed in this mangrove tree species in Kenya.

References:

Tomlinson, P.B., 1986. The Botany of Mangroves. Cambridge University Press. Cambride Tropical Biology Series. 413 pp.

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